Safety device for workmen on steel structures



A. l. ROKE Dem 1, 1942.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR WORKMEN ON STEEL STRUCTURES Filed Feb. 18, 1942 INVENTOR. HL ERT ROKE A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 1, 1942 W UNITED STATES arsr or SAFETY DEVICE FOR WORKMEN N STEEL STRUCTURES Albert 1. Roke, Flushing, N. I Application February 18, 1942, Serial No. 431,321 (c1. 227 49) Claims.

This invention relates to safety devices for workmen on steel structures, and provides improvements therein.

There is a considerable hazard to workmen occupied in the erection of steel structures, such as steel frames for buildings, bridges, and the like, and the occupational insurance on this class of workmen is very high. l

The present invention'provides a device for reducing the hazards of this type of workman,

and of reducing the burden on industry by reason of high occupational insurance.

The present invention providesa safety device which permits great freedom of movement of the workman, which is readily anchored'to the steel structure, and, when the workman falls, checks without injurious suddenness the falling Workman. The invention further provides means'for righting the body of the falling workman before the ,fall is completely checked, and means'to distribute the momentum-of the falling body to a number of parts of the workmans body I I The invention further the character described, which is of great simplicity, easily applied, readily understood in its mode of use and operation,.safe and reliable in its operation, relativelylight' so as not to be an encumbrance to'the movements of the workman, which makes use of materials, has long life, and which maybe produced at a moderate cost.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. The invention, however, may receive that herein scribed.

Referring to said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating said embodiment of the safety device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the anchor, shown in relation to an I-beam.

I 'Fig. 3 is a view inside elevation illustrating the application of the anchor to'an I-beam'.

Figs. 4 and-5 are views from the front and back respectively, illustrating one means for attaching the rope to the body of the workman.

Fig. 6 is a composite view illustratingone means for attaching the rope around the waist of the workman.

Referring to said figures, numeral l0 designates an anchor; numeral I2designates a rope attached. at one end to the anchor, andhaving at its other end a means I4 for attaching the provides a device of specifically illustrated and derope to the body of the workman; Numeral I6 55 of steel.

simple and available other embodiments than i which runs through the eye designates one or more shock absorbing means which act on th rope to check the momentum of the falling body of the workman-L 1 Theanchor Ill comprises a bar 26 constructed and arranged to span 'crossw'ise tliefiange of an I-beam, and having hooks 23, 24 at its ends constructed and arranged to engage the flange of the I-beam at opposite sides. Means areprovided for stabilizing the bar 20 so that the hooks 23, 2 1 thereon remain perpendicular to the plane of the flange of the I-beam. The stabilizing means advantageously comprise Wings 2!, .22 attached to the bar 20, extending laterally thereof in the plane of the bar 2!), and constructed and arranged to bear on the flange of the I-bearnat each side of the bar 20,

and maintain the bar in a position in which Just about clears the opposite edge of the flange of the I-beam, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The

hooks 23, 24 are relatively deep or long from the tip 27 to the base 25, so as to have a secure hold on the flange of the I-beam, and so that the tips 21 of both hooks 23 and 24, when-the anchor is in a position running diagonally acrossthe I-beam, are under the flange of the I-beam at both sides. The normal position of the anchor is diagonally of the I-beam as illustrated in Fig. 2. p I

The anchor is provided with means for attaching one end of the rope -I2 thereto. One such means, as illustrated, "comprises an eye 30 on the bar-2B, and aring' 32 may be provided, 30,;and to which ring an end of the rope I2 is attached. For strength a loop 35 is formed at an end of the rope, as by splicing the end of the rope near, one end, as indicated at -31, and then knotting dicated at 38.

To lighten the anchor l0, consistent-With adequate strength, and to' enable the anchor to be dragged alongan I-beam without noticeable resistance or impediment to the movements of the workman, the bar 20, hooks 23 and 24 thereon, and thewings 2|, 22 may be fo'rmed of'a bar Steel reinforcements 4!,42, may 'be provided adjacent the ends of the bar for strengthening the hooks 23, 24. The wings 2|, 22 may be, as shown, a loop or ring of steel, with bands 44, 45, in each leg of the loop, about the middle thereof, which straddle the bar 2|] and are attached to the bar by welding, as indicated at 41.

The rope I2 is advantageously the ordinary manila rope of commerce, of adequate strength, with a liberal factor of safety for stopping the momentum of the body of the workman should he fall, and the rope has an effective length to give the workman a normal or fair range of movement. The range of movement of the workman is provided by the length of the rope, and also by the capability of the anchor Hi sliding lengthwise of the I-beam. Ordinarily it is proposed to make the effective length of the rope about twelve to fourteen feet, as this would give the workman freedom to climb from one story to another, withthe anchor in place on the I-beam of a floor below.

The cushioning means I6 is advantageously made in the form of one or more yieldable loops As shown in Fig. 1, a loop in the rope |2 itself. may be formed in the rope, and the portions of the loop adjacent the rope seized or bound by a cord 50, or by an S-hook 52, or other suitable means. The seizing means is constructed and arranged so as to prevent the loop from yielding under the force of normal strains, but permit the loop to yield, and thereby cushion the action of the rope in stopping the momentum of the falling body, when a strong pull is exerted on the rope, as occurs when the rope is drawn taut by the momentum of a falling body which is attached thereto.

The means M for attaching the rope i2 to the bodyof the workman isadvantageously primarily the rope itself, thereby having the attachment of the device to the body of the same strength as the rope itself. To this end a loop 65 may be formed in the rope, as by forming a loop in the end portion of the rope and splicing the end of the rope as indicated at 52, Fig. 6. At a distance from the loop sufficient to enable the rope to snugly encircle the waist of the workman, means are provided for attachment of the rope to the loop 60. This means may comprise a pair of oppositely formed hooks 64, 65, which pass over the looped rope from opposite sides and in effect form a closed ring around the rope in the loop 65. The pair of hooks 64, are advantageously attached to the rope I2 by means of a loop 61 in a non-slipping form of knot 69 formed in the rope, as for example a bow-line knot, illustrated in Fig. 6. The loop 61 passes through eyes H in the hook 64, 65, and a grooved eyelet 13 which passes through the eyes H in the hooks may be fastened within the loop 61 in the rope. The bowline knot 69 prevents the portion of the rope which is looped around the body of the user from slipping, and thereby avoids dangerous or fatal constriction of the body around the waist in the event of a fall by the user.

'The means for attaching the rope to the body of the workman also advantageously comprises means for distributing the shock or reaction to the momentum of the falling body of the workman being stopped by the rope. This means advantageously comprises a broad belt fastened around the body of the workman, and having eyes 82, 83, 84 for holding thereon the portionof the rope '|2 which is fastened the body is fully checked by the rope.

around the body of the workman. Attached to the belt, as indicated at 86, are a pair of crossed strips or belts 9|], 9| which pass over the shoulders and under the crotch of the workman, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The straps 90, 9| serve to distribute a part of the reaction forces acting on the rope and belt to the shoulders and legs of the workman, and thereby take some of the strain from the midportion of the body and back.

Means are also advantageously provided for righting the body of the workman, should he fall head downward, before the momentum of To this end, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5, a link may be provided between the crossed straps 90, 9|, near the shoulders and a portion of the rope, a short distance from the portion which is fastened around the waist of the workman. The link 95 is conveniently in the form of a piece of cord looped around the shoulder straps 90, 9|, adjacent the shoulder blade of the user, at the point where the straps cross, as indicated at 97, and also looped around the rope in the form of a clove hitch 98 as illustrated.

Operation The Workman steps into the straps 99, 9|, and puts them over his shoulders crossing his body at the front and back. The portion of the rope |2 which passes around his waist is fastened by attaching the hooks 64, 65 to the loop 60 at the end of the rope l2. .The link 95 holds a portion of the rope l2, adjacent the belt, extending upwardly, as illustrated in Fig. l. i

The workman then attaches the anchor 20, to which the opposite end of the rope I2 is fastened, to an I-beam. This he does by tilting the am chor, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and putting one of the hooks, as the hook 25,-over the flange .of the flange at the opposite side of the I-beam.

The anchor is then dropped to a position where it lies flat .acrossthe flange of the I-beam. The rope between the belt and the anchor falls at one side or the other of the I-beam and its weight is sufficient to slide the anchor, and maintain it, with the base 25 of the hook against the edge of the flange of the I-beam, at the side opposite that over which the rope falls. Ordinarily, after the anchor is put in place on the I-beam, it will take up a position diagonally across the I-beam, so that the tips of both hooks extend beneath the flange of the I-beam. After the anchor 20 has been put in place it may be purposely moved to a diagonal position, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The rope has sufficient length to enable the workman to have a reasonable degree of freedom of movement. Moreover, his freedom of movement lengthwise of the beam is unrestricted, inasmuch as the anchor 20 will slide along the flange of the I-beam with slight resistance, as the workman moves along the I-beam. The wings 2|, 22 prevent the bar 20 and the hooks 23, 24 thereon from tilting during these movements, as well as at other times. The effective length of the rope l2 may be adjusted to the requirements of the particular job, though ordinarily an effective length of about twelve feet is provided. Such a length enables the workman to climb vertical beams and make joints between the upright beams and columns and the cross-beams for the next floor, and also to manipulate the rope to detach the anchor from the lower I-beam and raise to the floor above and attach to the I-beam at that floor.

The rope I2 is provided with cushioning means l6, as hereinbefore described.

In the event that the workman falls his descent will be stopped by the rope [2 which is attached to him and to the anchor ID. The full force of the momentum of the fall of the workman is not immediately exerted on his body when the rope becomes taut, but this force is moderated by the cushioning means Hi. In the forms shown, the loops IS in the rope slip against the binding force of the seizing cord 58 or the buckle 52 with the double hooks and those absorb a part of the momentum. The part of the momentum remaining to be stopped, and applied through the rope to the body of the workman, is much less than the full force of momentum to be overcome. Moreover, usually the line of fall of the workmans body would be out of line with the point of attachment of the anchor III to the I-beam, and when the rope becomes taut, there would be a lateral moment (as with a pendulum) having the effect of further moderating the shock transmitted by the rope to the workmans body in overcoming the momentum of the fall. The strain or shock to be borne by the body of the workman is thereby much lessened. The anchor resists the force by reason of the engagement of one or the other side of the I-beam by one or the other of the hooks 23, 24, and on the opposite side to whichever side of the I-beam the workman falls. The downward pull of the rope, by reason of its attachment close to the plane of the bar and at a point between the edges of the flange so that the rope l2 rides,the edge of the flange, is to exert a pull almost exclusively parallel to the plane of the flange, and there is consequently no efiective lifting force.

With the body attaching means l4 illustrated, the shock on the body of the falling workman would be further moderated. The portion of the rope which passes around the waist of the workman cannot slip and squeeze him by reason of the knot which passes through the eyes of the hooks 64, being a non-slipping knot. The broad belt distributes the pressure of the rope to the body. The portion of the straps 90, 9| which are attached to the belt 80, as indicated at 86, cause a considerable portion of the strain to be absorbed by the legs. The portion of the straps which pass over his shoulders would likewise serve to absorb a portion of the strain in the event that the position of the falling workman should be head downward when the rope l2 becomes taut. Whatever the position the body of the falling workman is when the rope H! Joecomes taut, the strain will be distributed to various portions of the body by the belt and the straps which pass over his shoulders and under his crotch, and across his trunk at back and front.

The link attached to a portion of the rope l2 near the waist, and attached to the straps '90, 9| adjacent the shoulder blades, should the Workman fall head foremost, serves to pull the body of the workman to an upright position before the rope acts to completely counteract the momentum of the body of the workman, and enables the workman to better handle himself at this moment.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety-device for workmen on steel structures, comprising a rope adapted to be fastened to the body of the workman, and an anchor to which an end of said rope is attached, said anchor comprising a bar constructed to span an I-beam, crosswise, having hooks at its ends so constructed and arranged that the gap between the base of a hook and the tip of the opposite hook is approximately equal to the width of the flange of the beam, and means for stabilizing the bar so that the hooks thereon remain perpendicular to the plane of the flange.

2. A safety-device for workmen on steel structures, comprising a rope adapted to be fastened to the body of the workman, and an anchor to which an end of said rope is attached, said anchor comprising a bar constructed to span an I-beam, crosswise, having hooks at its ends constructed and arranged to engage the flange of the beam at opposite sides, and having wings extending laterally and constructed and arranged to bear on the flange of the beam and maintain the bar in a position in which the hooks thereon remain perpendicular to the plane of the flange.

3. A safety-device according to claim 2, said bar further having a means of attaching the rope thereto close to the plane of said bar, so that the Weight of the rope hanging at one side of a beam acts nearly parallel to the plane of said bar to pull and maintain the base of'the hook against the opposite edge of the flange.

4. A safety-device according to claim 2, wherein said wings are loops of bar-stock and the weight of the anchor is lightened consistent with adequate strength so that it may readily slide along the beam through the pull of the rope when the workman moves more than rope-length away from the anchor.

5. A safety-device according to claim 2, wherein the bar with the hooks is so constructed and arranged that the gap between the base of a hook and the tip of the opposite hook is approximately equal to the width of the flange of the beam.

ALBERT I. ROKE. 

